JP2013024564A - Image inspection apparatus, image inspection system and image inspection method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress reduction of inspection accuracy even when performing image inspection of a printed matter that is printed using a transparent color.SOLUTION: An image inspection apparatus comprises a capturing section 211 which captures colored image data which are image data of a chromatic color material, a master image data generation section 213 which generates master image data by converting the chromatic image data on the basis of transparent image data which are image data of a transparent color material, and an image inspection section 217 which inspects inspection image data generated by optically reading a print image based on the chromatic image data and the transparent image data from printed matter with which the print image is printed while using the master image data.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image inspection apparatus, an image inspection system, and an image inspection method.

  In recent years, on-demand printing has been put into practical use, and there is a high demand for image inspection of printed matter. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an image inspection system that inspects an inspection object made of a printed material based on a master image.

  By the way, in recent years, a printing technique has been developed that performs printing by adding not only colors but also transparent colors. However, if inspection is performed using the image inspection system as described above, the inspection accuracy is lowered.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and is an image inspection apparatus and image that can suppress a decrease in inspection accuracy even when performing image inspection of a printed matter printed using a transparent color. An object is to provide an inspection system and an image inspection method.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, an image inspection apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes a color image data acquisition unit that acquires color image data that is image data of a color material, and a transparent color material. The color image data is converted on the basis of the transparent image data, and a master image data generating unit that generates master image data, and using the master image data, the color image data and the transparent image data are converted into the color image data and the transparent image data. And an image inspection unit that inspects inspection image data generated by optically reading the print image from a printed material on which the printed image is printed.

  An image inspection system according to another aspect of the present invention is an image inspection system including an image forming apparatus and an image inspection apparatus, and the image forming apparatus receives color image data that is image data of a color material. A color image data generation unit to generate, a transparent image data generation unit to generate transparent image data which is image data of a transparent color material, and print image data generation to generate print image data from the color image data and the transparent image data A printing unit that prints a print image based on the print image data on a recording medium to generate a printed matter, and the image inspection apparatus includes the color image data acquisition unit that acquires the color image data; A master image data generation unit that converts the color image data based on transparent image data and generates master image data; and the print image from the printed matter An image reading unit for generating a test image data optically read by using the master image data, characterized in that and an image inspection section for inspecting the inspection image data.

  Further, in the image inspection method according to another aspect of the present invention, the color image data acquisition unit acquires the color image data that is the image data of the color material, and the master image data generation unit includes: A master image data generation step for converting the color image data based on transparent image data that is image data of a transparent color material to generate master image data, and an image inspection unit using the master image data And an image inspection step of inspecting inspection image data generated by optically reading the print image from a printed matter on which the print image based on the image data and the transparent image data is printed.

  According to the present invention, even if image inspection of a printed matter printed using a transparent color is performed, it is possible to suppress a decrease in inspection accuracy.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an image inspection system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the printer and the image inspection apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a detailed configuration of the master image data generation unit of the first embodiment. FIG. 4 shows an example of the difference between the RGB read value when the image reading unit reads a patch in which the CLR color is superimposed on the Cyan color and the RGB read value when the image reading unit reads a patch of only the Cyan color. It is a graph which shows. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a color mixture patch in which each density of normal CMYK is distributed. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of image inspection processing performed in the image inspection system of the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing using the clear toner according to the second embodiment. FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the printer and the image inspection apparatus according to the second embodiment. FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a detailed configuration of the master image data generation unit of the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the printer and the image inspection apparatus according to the third embodiment. FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a detailed configuration of the master image data generation unit of the third embodiment. FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the printer according to each of the embodiments.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of an image inspection apparatus, an image inspection system, and an image inspection method according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(First embodiment)
First, the configuration of the image inspection system of the first embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an image inspection system 1 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the image inspection system 1 includes a printer 100, an image inspection apparatus 200, and a stacker 300.

  The printer 100 includes an operation panel 101, photosensitive drums 103Y, 103M, 103C, 103K, and 103CL, a transfer belt 105, a secondary transfer roller 107, a paper feeding unit 109, a conveyance roller pair 111, and a fixing roller 113. And an inversion path 115.

  The operation panel 101 is an operation display unit that inputs various operations to the printer 100 and displays various screens.

  Each of the photosensitive drums 103Y, 103M, 103C, 103K, and 103CL was formed by forming a toner image by performing an image forming process (charging process, exposure process, development process, transfer process, and cleaning process). The toner image is transferred to the transfer belt 105. In this embodiment, a yellow toner image is formed on the photoreceptor drum 103Y, a magenta toner image is formed on the photoreceptor drum 103M, a cyan toner image is formed on the photoreceptor drum 103C, and the photoreceptor drum 103K is formed. Although a black toner image is formed and a clear toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 103CL, the present invention is not limited to this.

  The transfer belt 105 conveys a toner image (full color toner image) transferred from the photosensitive drums 103Y, 103M, 103C, 103K, and 103CL in an overlapping manner to the secondary transfer position of the secondary transfer roller 107. In this embodiment, a yellow toner image is first transferred to the transfer belt 105, and then a magenta toner image, a cyan toner image, a black toner image, and a clear toner image are sequentially superimposed and transferred. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

  The paper feeding unit 109 stores a plurality of recording papers (an example of a recording medium) in a superimposed manner, and feeds the recording papers.

  The transport roller pair 111 transports the recording paper fed by the paper feed unit 109 in the direction of arrow s on the transport path a.

  The secondary transfer roller 107 collectively transfers the full-color toner image conveyed by the transfer belt 105 onto the recording paper conveyed by the conveyance roller pair 111 at the secondary transfer position.

  The fixing roller 113 fixes the full color toner image on the recording paper by heating and pressing the recording paper on which the full color toner image is transferred.

  In the case of single-sided printing, the printer 100 discharges a recording sheet on which a full-color toner image is fixed to the image inspection apparatus 200. On the other hand, in the case of double-sided printing, the printer 100 sends the recording paper on which the full-color toner image is fixed to the reverse path 115.

  The reversing path 115 reverses the front and back surfaces of the recording paper by switching back the fed recording paper and conveys it in the direction of the arrow t. The recording paper conveyed by the reversing path 115 is re-conveyed by the conveying roller pair 111, the full-color toner image is transferred to the surface opposite to the previous one by the secondary transfer roller 107, fixed by the fixing roller 113, and image inspection The paper is discharged to the apparatus 200.

  The image inspection apparatus 200 includes image reading units 201A and 201B. The image reading device 201A optically reads one surface of the recording paper discharged from the printer 100, and the image reading device 201B optically reads the other surface of the recording paper discharged from the printer 100. The image inspection apparatus 200 discharges the recording paper that has been read to the stacker 300.

  The stacker 300 includes a tray 301. The stacker 300 stacks the recording sheets discharged by the image inspection apparatus 200 on the tray 301.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the printer 100 and the image inspection apparatus 200 according to the first embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the printer 100 includes a RIP (Raster Image Processor) unit 121, a printer control unit 123, and a printing unit 125. The image inspection apparatus 200 includes an image reading unit 201, an acquisition unit 211, a master image data generation unit 213, a buffer 215, and an image inspection unit 217.

  The RIP unit 121 receives print data from an external device such as a host device, and generates color image data that is image data of a color material and transparent image data that is image data of a transparent color material from the received print data. . Specifically, the RIP unit 121 performs RIP processing on the print data, and generates colored image data and transparent image data. At this time, the RIP unit 121 may generate attribute information indicating attributes of the transparent image data. The attribute information is, for example, information indicating the type of processing using clear toner.

  In the present embodiment, the print data includes data described in a page description language (PDL) such as PostScript (registered trademark), image data in a TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) format, and the like. However, the present invention is not limited to this. In the present embodiment, the color image data is CMYK RIP image data, and each pixel of CIP (Cyan), M (Magenta), Y (Yellow), and K (Black) RIP image data is 1 bit of 600 dpi. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Similarly, in this embodiment, the transparent image data is clear RIP image data, and each pixel of the CLR (Clear) RIP image data is 1 bit of 600 dpi, but the present invention is not limited to this. Absent.

  The printer control unit 123 transmits the color image data and the transparent image data generated by the RIP unit 121 to the image inspection apparatus 200 and also to the print unit 125. If the attribute information is generated by the RIP unit 121, the printer control unit 123 may transmit the attribute information to the image inspection apparatus 200 instead of the transparent image data. Further, the printer control unit 123 uses the image inspection result transmitted from the image inspection apparatus 200, for example, does not pass the designation of the discharge destination of the printed matter that has not passed the image inspection with respect to the stacker 300 or the image inspection. The printed material is marked, or the printing unit 125 is instructed to perform replacement printing.

  The printing unit 125 (an example of a printing unit) executes a printing process such as an image forming process, prints a print image based on the color image data and the transparent image data on a recording sheet, and generates a printed matter. In this embodiment, the printing unit 125 is realized by the photosensitive drums 103Y, 103M, 103C, 103K, and 103CL, the transfer belt 105, the secondary transfer roller 107, the fixing roller 113, and the like, but is not limited thereto. is not. As described above, in this embodiment, an image is printed by an electrophotographic method, but the present invention is not limited to this, and an image may be printed by an inkjet method.

  The image reading unit 201 optically reads the print image from the printed material on which the print image based on the color image data and the transparent image data is printed, and generates inspection image data. In the present embodiment, the image reading unit 201 is realized by the image reading units 201A and 201B. In the present embodiment, the inspection image data is RGB image data, and each pixel of the R, G, B image data is 8-bit 200 dpi, but is not limited thereto.

  The acquisition unit 211 (an example of a color image data acquisition unit, a transparent image data acquisition unit, and an attribute information acquisition unit) acquires color image data and transparent image data from the printer 100. The acquisition unit 211 acquires the attribute information when attribute information is transmitted from the printer 100 instead of the transparent image data.

  The master image data generation unit 213 converts the color image data acquired by the acquisition unit 211 based on the transparent image data acquired by the acquisition unit 211, and generates master image data. Specifically, the master image data generation unit 213 converts the color image data according to the transparent image data, and generates master image data.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a detailed configuration of the master image data generation unit 213 according to the first embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the master image data generation unit 213 includes a multilevel conversion unit 221, a resolution conversion unit 223, a multilevel conversion unit 225, a resolution conversion unit 227, and a color space conversion unit 229. .

  The multi-value conversion unit 221 converts each pixel of CIP, M, Y, and K RIP image data from 1-bit to 8-bit multi-value data. In the present embodiment, the multi-value conversion unit 221 converts to multi-value by smoothing with a spatial filter having a smoothing coefficient, but is not limited to this, and any conversion method to multi-value is possible. Good.

  The resolution conversion unit 223 converts the resolution of each RIP image data of C, M, Y, and K from 600 dpi to 200 dpi. In the present embodiment, the resolution conversion unit 223 converts the resolution by a method in which one pixel is thinned out into three pixels, but the present invention is not limited to this, and any method may be used as the resolution conversion method.

  The multi-value conversion unit 225 converts each pixel of the CLR RIP image data from 1-bit to 8-bit multi-value data. As the conversion method to the multi-value of the multi-value conversion unit 225, the same method as the conversion method to the multi-value of the multi-value conversion unit 221 can be used.

  The resolution conversion unit 227 converts the resolution of the CLR RIP image data from 600 dpi to 200 dpi. As the resolution conversion method of the resolution conversion unit 227, a method similar to the resolution conversion method of the resolution conversion unit 223 can be used.

  The color space conversion unit 229 converts the CMYK RIP image data into RGB image data according to the CLR RIP image data. The color space conversion unit 229 includes an RGB conversion unit 231 and a determination unit 233.

  The RGB conversion unit 231 determines the RGB value of each pixel 8 bits corresponding to CMYK of each pixel 8 bits, and converts the CMYK RIP image data into the determined RGB image data. The RGB conversion unit 231 performs an interpolation operation using tetrahedral interpolation from eight discrete lattice points in each of C, M, Y, and K to obtain RGB values. Accordingly, the RGB conversion unit 231 can obtain a set of RGB data for a certain lattice point parameter from a set of CMYK data. In this calculation method, the storage capacity of the image inspection apparatus 200 can be reduced.

  Here, the influence of the CLR RIP image data when converting the CMYK RIP image data into the RGB image data will be described.

  FIG. 4 shows a case where RGB reading values are read when the image reading unit 201 reads a plurality of gradation patches in which the CLR color is superimposed on the Cyan color, and a case where the image reading unit 201 reads a plurality of gradation patches only for the Cyan color. It is a graph which shows an example of the difference with the read value of RGB. In the example illustrated in FIG. 4, the horizontal axis indicates the value of the cyan color gradation patch, and the vertical axis indicates the difference between the RGB read values. The solid line R indicates the difference between the read values of R, the alternate long and short dash line G indicates the difference between the read values of G, and the dotted line B indicates the difference between the read values of B. As shown in FIG. 4, in the patch in which the CLR color is superimposed on the Cyan color and the patch having only the Cyan color, the RGB read value changes by a maximum of 15 digits (in the vicinity of the gradation value 150) in 255 digits. Although illustration is omitted, not only the Cyan color but also the Magenta color, the Yellow color, and the Black color cause a change in RGB read values depending on the presence or absence of the CLR color.

  As described above, the RGB read values of the inspection image data generated by the image reading unit 201 change depending on whether or not the CLR colors overlap. Here, the RGB image data converted by the RGB conversion unit 231 is used as master image data in the image inspection of inspection image data by the image inspection unit 217 described later. Therefore, the RGB conversion unit 231 needs to convert the CMYK RIP image data into the RGB image data in consideration of the influence of the CLR RIP image data.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the RGB conversion unit 231 obtains a set of RGB data in the lattice point parameters according to the determination result of the determination unit 233 described later, from the set of CMYK data. Specifically, if the grid point parameters when the CLR colors overlap are input from the determination unit 233, the RGB conversion unit 231 receives a set of RGB in the grid point parameter from a set of CMYK data. Ask for data. On the other hand, if the grid point parameter when the CLR colors do not overlap is input from the determination unit 233, the RGB conversion unit 231 obtains a set of RGB data in the grid point parameter from the set of CMYK data. . Accordingly, the RGB conversion unit 231 can convert the CMYK RIP image data into the RGB image data in consideration of the influence of the CLR color.

  Returning to FIG. 3, the determination unit 233 determines whether or not the inspection image data has a clear color from the CLR RIP image data. Here, the determination unit 233 holds the lattice point parameter when the CLR color is overlapped and the lattice point parameter when the CLR color is not overlapped. When the determination unit 233 determines that the clear color is not used in the inspection image data, the determination unit 233 outputs a lattice point parameter when the CLR color does not overlap to the RGB conversion unit 231 and uses the clear color in the inspection image data. If it is determined that the CLR color is overlapped, the grid point parameter when the CLR color is overlapped is output to the RGB conversion unit 231.

  When the CLR colors are not overlapped, the lattice point parameters are such that the printer 100 prints 25 mixed color patches to which each density of normal CMYK is distributed on a recording sheet, and the image reading unit 201 prints the 25 recording sheets. Required by reading. FIG. 5 shows an example of a mixed color patch in which each density of normal CMYK is distributed. Similarly, when the CLR colors are overlapped, the lattice point parameter is that the printer 100 prints 25 gloss patches that have been subjected to the gloss processing by the clear toner on the recording paper, and the image reading unit 201 prints the 25 recording papers. Required by reading.

  Returning to FIG. 2, the buffer 215 stores the master image data generated by the master image data generation unit 213. When inspection image data is generated by the image reading unit 201, the buffer 215 outputs master image data used for inspection to the image inspection unit 217.

  The image inspection unit 217 inspects the inspection image data generated by the image reading unit 201 using the master image data output from the buffer 215. The image inspection unit 217 transmits the inspection result to the printer 100.

  Next, the operation of the image inspection system of the first embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of image inspection processing performed in the image inspection system 1 of the first embodiment.

  First, the RIP unit 121 performs RIP processing on the print data to generate colored image data and transparent image data (step S100).

  Subsequently, the printing unit 125 executes a printing process such as an image forming process, prints a print image based on the color image data and the transparent image data on a recording sheet, and generates a printed material (step S102).

  Subsequently, the acquisition unit 211 acquires colored image data and transparent image data from the printer 100 (step S104).

  Subsequently, the master image data generation unit 213 converts the color image data according to the transparent image data, and generates master image data (step S106).

  Subsequently, the image reading unit 201 optically reads the print image from the printed material on which the print image based on the color image data and the transparent image data is printed to generate inspection image data (step S108).

  Subsequently, the image inspection unit 217 inspects inspection image data using the master image data (step S110).

  As described above, in the first embodiment, the master image data is generated in consideration of the presence or absence of the clear plate. Therefore, even when the image inspection of the printed matter printed using the clear color is performed, the inspection is performed. Image inspection can be performed with high accuracy while suppressing a decrease in accuracy.

(Second Embodiment)
In the second embodiment, an example of generating master image data corresponding to a processing mode using clear toner will be described. In the following, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described, and components having the same functions as those in the first embodiment will be given the same names and symbols as those in the first embodiment, and description thereof will be given. Is omitted.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing using the clear toner according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 7, in the present embodiment, gloss processing or mat processing is performed as processing using clear toner. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and processing using other clear toner may be performed.

  As shown in FIG. 7, in the gloss processing, the clear toner layer is uniformly overlapped on the colored toner (yellow toner, magenta toner, cyan toner, and black toner) layer so that the toner surface after fixing becomes smooth. It is processing. The matte treatment is intended for matte (matte effect), and is a treatment in which a clear toner layer is nonuniformly superimposed on a colored toner layer so that the toner surface after fixing becomes nonuniform.

  As described above, even when the CLR colors overlap with each other, the RGB read values of the inspection image data change. For this reason, in the second embodiment, master image data is generated in consideration of how CLR colors overlap (a mode of processing using clear toner).

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the printer 100 and the image inspection apparatus 1200 according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 8, in the second embodiment, the master image data generation unit 1213 of the image inspection apparatus 1200 of the image inspection system 1001 is different from the first embodiment.

  The master image data generation unit 1213 detects the number of lines of transparent image data, converts the color image data according to the detected number of lines of transparent image data, and generates master image data.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a detailed configuration of the master image data generation unit 1213 of the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 9, in the second embodiment, the color space conversion unit 1229 of the master image data generation unit 1213 further includes a line number detection unit 1235, and the processing contents of the RGB conversion unit 1231 and the determination unit 1233 are as follows. This is different from the first embodiment.

  The line number detection unit 1235 detects whether the result of halftone processing applied to the CLR RIP image data is a fine halftone dot or a rough halftone dot. The line number detection unit 1235 may perform line number detection using the result of the Laplacian filter as a feature amount, or may perform line number detection using a method such as pattern matching.

  The determination unit 1233 determines the presence / absence of the clear color of the inspection image data and the mode of processing using the clear toner from the line number detection result of the line number detection unit 1235. Here, the determination unit 1233 holds the grid point parameter when the gloss process is performed, the grid point parameter when the mat process is performed, and the grid point parameter when the CLR color does not overlap. Yes. For example, when the determination unit 1233 determines that the detection result of the number of lines is 0 and the clear color is not used in the inspection image data, the lattice point parameter when the CLR color does not overlap is output to the RGB conversion unit 1231. To do. For example, if the line number detection result is greater than 0 and less than or equal to the threshold value, the determination unit 1233 determines that the inspection image data has been subjected to mat processing, and the RGB conversion unit 1231 has undergone mat processing. Output the grid point parameter. For example, if the line number detection result is larger than the threshold value, the determination unit 1233 determines that the inspection image data has been subjected to gloss processing, and the grid point parameter when the RGB conversion unit 1231 has been subjected to gloss processing. Is output.

  If the grid point parameters when the CLR colors do not overlap are input from the determination unit 1233, the RGB conversion unit 1231 obtains a set of RGB data for the grid point parameters from the set of CMYK data. In addition, when the grid point parameter when the mat processing is performed from the determination unit 1233 is input, the RGB conversion unit 1231 obtains a set of RGB data for the grid point parameter from the set of CMYK data. . In addition, when the grid point parameter when the gloss process is performed is input from the determination unit 1233, the RGB conversion unit 1231 obtains a set of RGB data in the grid point parameter from the set of CMYK data. .

  As described above, in the second embodiment, the master image data is generated in consideration of the intended use of the clear plate (a mode of processing using clear toner), so that the printed matter printed using the clear color is used. Even when performing an image inspection, it is possible to suppress a decrease in inspection accuracy and perform an image inspection with high accuracy.

(Third embodiment)
In the third embodiment, an example in which master image data corresponding to attribute information is generated will be described. In the following, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described, and components having the same functions as those in the first embodiment will be given the same names and symbols as those in the first embodiment, and description thereof will be given. Is omitted.

  FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the printer 100 and the image inspection apparatus 2200 according to the third embodiment. As shown in FIG. 10, in the third embodiment, the master image data generation unit 2213 of the image inspection apparatus 2200 of the image inspection system 2001 is different from the first embodiment.

  The master image data generation unit 2213 converts the color image data according to the attribute information acquired by the acquisition unit 211, and generates master image data.

  FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a detailed configuration of the master image data generation unit 2213 according to the third embodiment. As shown in FIG. 11, in the third embodiment, the processing contents of the RGB conversion unit 2231 and the determination unit 2233 of the color space conversion unit 2229 of the master image data generation unit 2213 are different from those of the first embodiment.

  The determination unit 2233 determines the presence / absence of the clear color of the inspection image data and the processing mode using the clear toner from the attribute information transmitted from the printer 100. Here, it is assumed that the attribute information is 2-bit information and indicates any of gloss processing, mat processing, and matting processing in which CLR colors do not overlap. In addition, the determination unit 2233 does not overlap the CLR color with the lattice point parameter when the gloss processing is performed and the lattice point parameter when the mat processing is performed and the lattice point parameter when the mat processing is performed. The grid point parameters of the case. If the determination unit 2233 determines from the attribute information that the clear color is not used in the inspection image data, the determination unit 2233 outputs to the RGB conversion unit 2231 the lattice point parameters when the CLR colors do not overlap. If the determination unit 2233 determines from the attribute information that the inspection image data has been subjected to the mat processing, the determination unit 2233 outputs the grid point parameters when the mat processing is performed to the RGB conversion unit 2231. If the determination unit 2233 determines from the attribute information that the inspection image data has been subjected to the matting process, the determination unit 2233 outputs the grid point parameter when the matting process is performed to the RGB conversion unit 2231. If the determination unit 2233 determines from the attribute information that the inspection image data has been subjected to the gloss process, the determination unit 2233 outputs a grid point parameter when the gloss process has been performed to the RGB conversion unit 2231.

  If the grid point parameters when the CLR colors do not overlap are input from the determination unit 2233, the RGB conversion unit 2231 obtains a set of RGB data in the grid point parameters from the set of CMYK data. In addition, when the grid point parameter when the mat processing is performed from the determination unit 2233 is input, the RGB conversion unit 2231 obtains a set of RGB data for the grid point parameter from the set of CMYK data. . In addition, when the grid point parameter when the matting process is performed from the determination unit 2233 is input from the determination unit 2233, the RGB conversion unit 2231 obtains a set of RGB data in the grid point parameter from the set of CMYK data. . In addition, when the grid point parameter when the gloss process is performed is input from the determination unit 2233, the RGB conversion unit 2231 obtains a set of RGB data in the grid point parameter from the set of CMYK data. .

  As described above, in the third embodiment as well, master image data is generated in consideration of the intended use of the clear plate (a mode of processing using clear toner), so that the printed matter printed using the clear color is used. Even when performing an image inspection, it is possible to suppress a decrease in inspection accuracy and perform an image inspection with high accuracy.

(Modification)
In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A various deformation | transformation is possible. In the above embodiment, a printer is taken as an example of an image forming apparatus, but the present invention is not limited to this. The image forming apparatus may be, for example, a multifunction peripheral (MFP) having at least two functions among a printing function, a copying function, a scanner function, and a facsimile function.

(Hardware configuration)
FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the printer 100 according to each of the embodiments.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the printer 100 has a configuration in which a controller 910 and an engine unit (Engine) 960 are connected by a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) bus. The controller 910 is a controller that controls the entire control of the printer 100, drawing, communication, and input from the operation display unit 920. The engine unit 960 is an engine that can be connected to the PCI bus, and is a printer engine such as a monochrome plotter, a one-drum color plotter, or a four-drum color plotter. The engine unit 960 includes an image processing part such as error diffusion and gamma conversion in addition to the engine part.

  The controller 910 includes a CPU 911, a north bridge (NB) 913, a system memory (MEM-P) 912, a south bridge (SB) 914, a local memory (MEM-C) 917, and an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit). 916 and a hard disk drive (HDD) 918, and the North Bridge (NB) 913 and the ASIC 916 are connected by an AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) bus 915. The MEM-P 912 further includes a ROM 912a and a RAM 912b.

  The CPU 911 performs overall control of the printer 100 and has a chip set including the NB 913, the MEM-P 912, and the SB 914, and is connected to other devices via the chip set.

  The NB 913 is a bridge for connecting the CPU 911 to the MEM-P 912, SB 914, and the AGP bus 915, and includes a memory controller that controls reading and writing to the MEM-P 912, a PCI master, and an AGP target.

  The MEM-P 912 is a system memory used as a memory for storing programs and data, a memory for developing programs and data, a memory for drawing printers, and the like, and includes a ROM 912a and a RAM 912b. The ROM 912a is a read-only memory used as a memory for storing programs and data, and the RAM 912b is a writable and readable memory used as a program / data development memory, a printer drawing memory, and the like.

  The SB 914 is a bridge for connecting the NB 913 to a PCI device and a peripheral device. The SB 914 is connected to the NB 913 via a PCI bus, and a network interface (I / F) unit and the like are also connected to the PCI bus.

  The ASIC 916 is an IC (Integrated Circuit) for image processing having hardware elements for image processing, and has a role of a bridge for connecting the AGP bus 915, the PCI bus, the HDD 918, and the MEM-C 917, respectively. The ASIC 916 includes a PCI target and an AGP master, an arbiter (ARB) that forms the core of the ASIC 916, a memory controller that controls the MEM-C 917, and a plurality of DMACs (Direct Memory) that perform image data rotation by hardware logic and the like. Access Controller) and a PCI unit that performs data transfer between the engine unit 960 via the PCI bus. The ASIC 916 is connected to a USB (Universal Serial Bus) 940 and an IEEE 1394 (the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 1394) interface (I / F) 950 via a PCI bus. The operation display unit 920 is directly connected to the ASIC 916.

  The MEM-C 917 is a local memory used as a copy image buffer and a code buffer, and the HDD 918 is a storage for storing image data, programs, font data, and forms.

  The AGP bus 915 is a bus interface for a graphics accelerator card proposed for speeding up graphics processing. The AGP bus 915 speeds up the graphics accelerator card by directly accessing the MEM-P 912 with high throughput. It is.

  The image inspection apparatus according to each of the embodiments includes a control device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a storage device such as a ROM and a RAM, an external storage device such as an HDD and an SSD, a display device such as a display, a mouse, An input device such as a keyboard and a communication device such as a communication I / F are provided, and the hardware configuration uses a normal computer.

  The image inspection program executed by the image inspection apparatus according to each of the above embodiments is provided by being incorporated in advance in a ROM or the like.

  The image inspection program executed by the image inspection apparatus of each of the above embodiments is a file in an installable or executable format, such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk (FD), a CD-R, a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), or the like. It may be configured to be recorded on a computer-readable storage medium.

  Furthermore, the image inspection program executed by the image inspection apparatus of each of the above embodiments may be provided by being stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and downloaded via the network. Further, the image inspection program executed by the image inspection apparatus according to each of the above embodiments may be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.

  The image inspection program executed by the image inspection apparatus according to each of the above embodiments has a module configuration for realizing the above-described units on a computer. As actual hardware, the CPU reads out a program from the ROM to the RAM and executes it, so that the above-described units are realized on the computer.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1001, 2001 Image inspection system 100 Printer 101 Operation panel 103Y, 103M, 103C, 103K, 103CL Photosensitive drum 105 Transfer belt 107 Secondary transfer roller 109 Paper feed part 111 Conveyance roller pair 113 Fixing roller 115 Reverse path 121 RIP part 123 Printer control unit 125 Print unit 200, 1200, 2200 Image inspection apparatus 201, 201A, 201B Image reading unit 211 Acquisition unit 213, 1213, 2213 Master image data generation unit 215 Buffer 217 Image inspection unit 221 Multi-value conversion unit 223 Resolution conversion Unit 225 multi-value conversion unit 227 resolution conversion unit 229, 1229, 2229 color space conversion unit 231, 1231, 2231 RGB conversion unit 233, 1233, 2233 determination unit 1235 Number detecting unit 300 stacker 301 tray 910 Controller 911 CPU
912 System memory 912a ROM
912b RAM
913 North Bridge 914 South Bridge 915 AGP Bus 916 ASIC
917 Local memory 918 Hard disk drive 920 Operation display unit 940 USB
950 IEEE1394 interface 960 engine part

Japanese Patent No. 4407588

Claims (6)

A color image data acquisition unit that acquires color image data that is image data of a color material;
A master image data generation unit that converts the colored image data based on transparent image data that is image data of a transparent color material, and generates master image data;
An image inspection unit that inspects inspection image data generated by optically reading the print image from a printed matter on which the print image based on the color image data and the transparent image data is printed using the master image data; ,
An image inspection apparatus comprising: A transparent image data acquisition unit for acquiring the transparent image data;
The image inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the master image data generation unit converts the colored image data according to the transparent image data and generates the master image data.   The master image data generation unit detects the number of lines of the transparent image data, converts the colored image data according to the detected number of lines of the transparent image data, and generates the master image data. The image inspection apparatus according to claim 2. An attribute information acquisition unit that acquires attribute information indicating an attribute of the transparent image data;
The image inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the master image data generation unit converts the colored image data according to the attribute information and generates the master image data. An image inspection system comprising an image forming apparatus and an image inspection apparatus,
The image forming apparatus includes:
A color image data generation unit that generates color image data that is image data of a color material;
A transparent image data generation unit that generates transparent image data that is image data of a transparent color material;
A printing unit that generates a printed matter by printing a print image based on the color image data and the transparent image data on a recording medium, and
The image inspection apparatus includes:
A color image data acquisition unit for acquiring the color image data;
A master image data generation unit that converts the colored image data based on the transparent image data and generates master image data;
An image reading unit that optically reads the printed image from the printed matter to generate inspection image data;
An image inspection system comprising: an image inspection unit that inspects the inspection image data using the master image data. A color image data acquisition step in which the color image data acquisition unit acquires color image data that is image data of a color material;
A master image data generating unit that converts the colored image data based on transparent image data that is image data of a transparent color material, and generates master image data;
An image inspection unit inspects inspection image data generated by optically reading the print image from a printed matter on which a print image based on the color image data and the transparent image data is printed, using the master image data. An image inspection step to perform,
An image inspection method comprising:

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